Enormous public support has encouraged the owners of Capital Pancakes to reopen in Canberra at a new site before the end of the year.
The Canberra Times revealed last week the much-loved family owned business in Civic was closing after 36 years - the final straw being the 10-diner rule for restaurants and cafes coming out of the coronavirus shutdown.
Co-owner Jefferson Barton confirmed the family was now looking at reopening, saying two landlords had offered his father new premises within 48 hours of them closing last Friday.
"The feedback has been amazing," he said.
"The shock of the closure has been balanced by the incredible support."
In the wake of the public response to the closure, Jefferson's father Philip, who opened the restaurant in 1984, took to social media to explain the pancakes were "rising".
"Hundreds of messages of condolence and support are flooding in (including one from Australian golfer Austin Bautista currently playing in Arizona). There are just too many to respond to individually. Thank you all for your encouragement to continue and for the loyalty and support that you have shown us over so many years," Philip wrote.
The family had spent some days "in shock", he said, but if the economic conditions were right they would return. He said the essential appeal of the business would now change at a new site.
"It was great people serving a great product that attracted people to our old basement home - and made the business one of Canberra's outstanding success stories. That can easily be replicated in another location," Philip wrote.
"We intend to re-establish in new premises before the end of this year and very much looking forward seeing you all there."
